How to deal with the ESCs' difference

[Wei Tang]

Hi all

    I am a newbie,and try to build a quadcopter with Flyingf3,now I found one of the my ESC is different from the other three,

when I use the GCS to configure, the PWM positive width should set to 1160uS to start the motor smoothly spin, while the other three are both the same value about 1048uS.

    So, when I finished all configuretions, only apply the throttle, the copter will flip as the arm with the deficient ESC can't give the same power from other three.

    Could someone help me, Do I have to buy a new ESC with the same parameters, or is there some method to compensate the ESC fit with others?

Thanks

[peabody124]

You can do two things:

1. You could just adjust the output slider neutral for all of them to the point that starts them up. Then the software should start them all at the same time.

2. Most ESCs support calibration. What type of ESC are you running? 

[Francis Velasco]

When you say different you mean that one of the ESC is a different brand with a different rate? its not identical to the other 3? or do you mean that you measured the PWM positive width and you saw the difference?

the software should help compensate for that by the vehicle wizard setting the motor to spin stably

[Reddog]

You need to calibrate your ESCs so they all have the same Min and Max input values.

[Wei Tang]

About the GCS configuration,I read some notes from OP's wiki, and flow the steps

step one, connect F3 with GCS, poweroff the ESC from main battery, set the max value as 1800uS, then move the slider to 1800uS;

step two, power the ESC with main battery,then press the HOME on the keyboard;

step three,use the test output function move the slider separately to set all ESCs smoothly spin,choose the "Mortors spin at neutral output when armed and throttle below zero"then press APPLY and SAVE button,

do I forgot some steps?

About ESCs calibration, Do you mean use the ESC calibration card?

[Wei Tang]

Do you mean use the GCS to calibrate ESCs I wote above?

[Wei Tang]

They are the same brand ,but maybe some difference, I use the GCS control F3 to output PWM for the testing,and I have use osc measure the PWM, it's same as the GCS's setting

[Reddog]

When an ESC is in calibration mode its looking for the maximum and minimum PWM value output from the receiver or in your case the flight controller. The steps below are correct but all calibration is done in the first 2, you just need to save after that. The quickest way to calibrate all ESCs is to link them together with the Link tickbox, set their min and max PWM output values and then move one slider to max (they should all do the same since they are linked). Power the multirotor with the battery and push the home button. You might wish to test by moving the sliders.

The "Motors spin at neutral output when armed" part. You do not need to do this as it has nothing to do with calibrating the ESCs.

ESC calibration car just sets up options, it does not calibrate them.

[Reddog]

If you are getting differences after you have calibrated and all ESCs are the same brand and type then you probably have a bad ESC.

[Wei Tang]

Thanks all,

    I have reconfigured the f3 yesterday use the GCS's Vehicle Setup Wizard, it seems the setup steps contains ESC calibration,

because after finished the Vehicle Setup Wizard step by step, all the four motors can start spin together under the throttle.

    But now I may have a new problem, when I try to fly the copter only give the  throttle,M1,M2 motors spin faster than M3 M4, lead to the copter flip back,

and if I give a little pitch with throttle,copter will fly upwards, so does this caused by the radio remoter calibrated not correctly  or my copter's sensors not calibrated correctly during the Vehicle Setup Wizard? Do I need to calibrate them both manually?

    

 

[Reddog]

Have you checked the PFD in the GCS to make sure when you move your copter around that the PFD looks as expected? If your board is not pointing forwards (look for the arrow) you must change your board rotation but do this after you have checked the PFD.

BTW - You should have started a new topic for this question because its liable to get lost.